Against her will, Sara felt guilty about what she was doing. From the stack of bridal magazines, she looked like one of those women who’d secretly been planning her wedding even though she hadn’t found the groom yet. In reality, any thoughts of wedding planning – or even having some semblance of a normal life – flew out the window the night her mother died and the night Michael broke her heart.
Of course, both those things happened on the same night…
But Sara didn’t want to think about either of those things right now and the skillful fingers massaging away the lingering tension from her conversation with Jane were helping her avoid any unpleasant thoughts. “Don’t you think it’s a little premature to be calling me Mrs. Kellerman?”
“I just wanted to see how it sounded.” Paul kissed the top of her head. “I’m not even going to ask how you got every bridal magazine in existence when we’re still snowed in.”
“Nika and Roni brought them in anticipation of the proposal.”
“And then abandoned you with pictures of flowers and cake? Nice.”
“Don’t forget about the dresses,” Nika chirped as she entered the kitchen. “And I would never abandon my best friend when she’s planning her wedding. I love weddings. I’ve been planning mine for years.”
Paul sat on the barstool formerly occupied by Veronica and grinned. “Are you even engaged, Nika?” When she smiled in lieu of a response, he added, “If you’ve made all your wedding plans, what say does the groom get in any of it?”
Nika’s look of horror was back. “You have so much to learn, Kellerman. The groom’s only involvement in the wedding is picking out a tuxedo, not doing something stupid at the bachelor party and getting to the church on time.”
Panic seeped into Sara’s mind. “Wait. That means I have to do everything by myself? I can’t possibly plan a wedding and avoid flunking out of school. Maybe all this needs to wait.”
“Nope. Not gonna happen. I don’t care that you two aren’t officially engaged yet. We’re totally doing this now. I’ll take care of everything.”
Paul cleared his throat. “I hate to be the one pointing out the obvious, but you’re going to be on the other side of the country, Nika.”
“It’s okay. I’ll have my assistant take care of it for me.”
Sara raised an eyebrow. “Assistant? I didn’t realize brand new actresses on TV got assistants.”
Nika thumbed through the magazine in her hand, grinning. “I might have understated just how big my part is next season.” She met Sara’s eyes. “Let’s just say that when you’re setting your DVR to record the episodes next fall, Nika Volek is going to be one of the three names you see.”
“Nika, that’s…”
She held up her hand to cut off Sara’s congratulations. “It’s still just television. Wait to be impressed until my agent uses it to catapult me into movies. Now,” she began, cutting her eyes in Paul’s direction. “Why are you here, Mr. Table-Fixing-Man?”
“Because the table’s done. I’m just letting the fumes air out before it comes back inside.”
“Ah. Well, I can’t show Sara the most perfect wedding dress ever created until you get the hell out of here.”
He rose to his feet and gave Sara a quick kiss. “I think Lincoln got varnish on me anyway when he was pretending to help. I’m going to use the shower in your room in case anyone needs the upstairs bathroom.”
Once he was out of earshot, Nika shook her head and frowned. “I can’t believe you seriously thought he was cheating on you. Did you see the look of horror on his face when you said you wanted to put off the wedding?”
No. She was too busy freaking out. “I know, Neek. It was stupid. Paul really does love me. I get that.”
Nika tried to concentrate on the magazine, but tossed it onto the table instead. “I can’t believe all the problems Miss Blondie is trying to cause. First, you and Paul. Now, Veronica and Lincoln are standing outside in the freezing cold fighting.”
“Maybe he shouldn’t have lied to her.”
“That’s the thing, chick. I don’t think he did. There was a lot of tension between Lincoln and Jane yesterday. No way have they slept together yet.” She batted her lashes innocently. “Sort of like all the tension that’s still between you and Paul.”
Sara sighed and remained silent.
“You know, it’s pretty quiet around here right now.” She inspected her nails. “And Paul’s naked in that shower, you know?”
“Well, that is how showers work, Nika.”
She continued as though Sara hadn’t said anything. “And it seems pretty obvious that you’d like to jump him at any moment.” She lifted her eyes to meet Sara’s questioning expression. “So, why are you still sitting here with me?”
“Planning the wedding?” It sounded flimsy even to her own ears.
“Yeah…and I can tell you’re so totally into this. Look…my engagement present to you. I’ll go deal with the fight outside and you go get some from your fiancé before you spontaneously combust.”
“We’re just going to get interrupted. Again. I’d rather wait than deal with more frustration today.”
“I’ve got this covered, Sara. Once I get our frozen friends back inside, I can get Linc to help me keep his moody-ass brother in check. And you said yourself that the Evil One was busy studying upstairs, so…” A smile played at her full lips. “I think a long, hot shower is just what you need today.”
Sara considered her friend’s suggestion for so long that the smiled faded from Nika’s lips. She was 100 percent right. After living her life ruled by the six-month sex guideline and spending the weekend living around Michael’s whims, she hadn’t let herself have much fun. Not anymore. That stopped now.
Today was the first day of the new and improved Sara Tancredi, the Sara who got exactly what she wanted without second-guessing and bullshit excuses.
“You know what I think, Nika?”
Her face fell. “If it’s really that I’m sleeping with your boyfriend then I’m totally going to have ugly mascara streaks on my face.”
She shook her head. “No. I think I’m going to be in the shower.” She hopped off the stool. “And if anyone needs me…Tough.”
Nika bounded off her own stool and shoved Sara towards the living room. “Go. Before you change your mind or Lincoln sets something else on fire.”
Sara tossed a smile over her shoulder as she strode from the room. “If he does, don’t bother me until the flames reach my bedroom door.”
© 2010, Sydney Katt. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use of content will result in dragon attacks.
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You just destroy my little dream
I guess I just can keep hoping he’s a ninja XD
Well, I wasn’t trying to destroy. I just didn’t want you to be wondering where the heck Mike was if he wasn’t waiting for her in her bedroom.
But we do know he used to have some ninja tree-climbing skills to get in and out of Sara’s window undetected all those times…
Mmmmm…..I don’t know if it is my reluctance to see Paul and Sara together…..but I am wondering if perhaps Sara will catch Paul out – on the phone or something – when she sneaks in for a shower????!!!!!
Then again…..it might just be your excuse for some hot lovin’ in the meantime….lol…..
I’m not sure about Nika…… I know she is Saras best friend, but she also seems like a bit of a flake sometimes – Sara is obviously struggling with a few things atm..and Nika doesn’t seem to pick up on that…….
Then again…maybe she does, but just chooses to ignore it, and tries to keep things upbeat……mmmm……*strokes chin thoughtfully*
Looking forward to next weeks chapter…..and I’m with newsmile….any bonuses gratefully received….lol…..*hugs*
I just remembered that Sara left her bedroom but Michael can be still in there
Ok, maybe I have nothing to worry about .. hihi!
Don’t worry for the bonus chapter.. I’ll wait 2 weeks but I wanna be reward
oh no! you alredy know I don’t like it..
I hope she don’t find Paul in the shower.. hihi
Any chance we could have a bonus?
If you can’t don’t worry.. I’m just looking for next Friday
Newsmile – Michael isn’t in the bedroom anymore. Nika told Sara 2 chapters back that he was outside with Paul and Lincoln. Unless he’s a ninja, they probably would’ve seen him come in.
Deb – Well, I am all about the hot lovin’…but I seem to be writing all those scenes into The Alliance lately…but we haven’t quite gotten to those yet.
Ahem…Anyway.
Hmmm…Nika might be a total flake. Or she might assume that Sara’s behavior is being causes by the annual depression she slips into around her birthday each year.
Or it’s all a big act to cover up her affair with Paul. Hard to say at this point…
J. Nicole Whitten´s last blog ..Stress and the Psychic
It’ll be okay. Just cover your eyes with your hands and peek between your fingers when you read that chapter.
Sorry…The Alliance is still launching, so it’s posting every day except for Friday for the next week. And I don’t like to post more than once in a day because I’m weird like that.